793.94/6613: Telegram
The Ambassador in Japan (Grew) to the Secretary of State
[Received April 26—10:15 a.m.]
79. My 75, April 25, 1 p.m.62 The British Ambassador has told me in confidence that his instructions directed him to seek a clarification of Amau’s statement with special reference to the provisions of the Nine-Power Treaty. Sir John Simon observed that Great Britain has no intention of taking measures in China contrary to Japan’s security or treaty rights and presumed that Japan likewise has no intention of infringing the terms of that treaty. Hirota’s reply was along the lines of his confidential statement to me although it was communicated to Lindley more formally through an interpreter. The Minister did not tell Lindley that the statement was issued without his knowledge or approval but he did say that the statement failed to interpret correctly the policy of the Japanese Government. Hirota added that while Japan is endeavoring to maintain the principle of the open door, China has partially closed the door in Japan’s face by the boycott. Lindley expressed confidentially to his Government the view that China’s policy of excluding Japan from the various projects of assistance is contrary to the interests of the other signatories of the Treaty and is likely to embroil us all with Japan.
The text of Amau’s statement which Lindley cabled to his Government was the English “unofficial translation of the unofficial statement” issued by the Foreign Office to the press on April 19th. (See my 73).63
- Foreign Relations, Japan, 1931–1941, vol. i, p. 227.↩
- April 21, 9 p.m., p. 123.↩